Last Report: 10/13/2020
Source: https://dl.ncsbe.gov/?prefix=ENRS/2020_11_03/

Returned and Accepted Mail Ballots

Ballots Returned: 492,825
Return Rate: 37.3%

Mail Ballots Returned and Accepted by Party Registration

Party Returned Ballots Freq. Distribution Requested Ballots Return Rate
Democrats 251,691 51.1 619,949 40.6
Republicans 87,518 17.8 252,423 34.7
Minor 1,728 0.4 6,979 24.8
No Party Affiliation 151,888 30.8 442,164 34.4
TOTAL 492,825 100.0 1,321,515 37.3
All
Dem
Rep
NPA
Minor

Mail Ballots Returned and Accepted by 2016 Vote History

Note: North Carolina provides only aggregate request statistics, so it is impossible to generate ballot return rates by 2016 general vote.
Voted Count Percent
Voted in 2016 General 365,282 74.1
Did Not Vote in 2016 General 127,543 25.9
TOTAL 492,825 100.0

Mail Ballots Returned and Accepted by Race and Ethnicity

Race/Ethnicity Returned Ballots Freq. Distribution Requested Ballots Return Rate
Non-Hispanic White 349,775 71.0 868,000 40.3
Non-Hispanic Black 78,348 15.9 232,901 33.6
Hispanic 9,457 1.9 33,983 27.8
Non-Hispanic Asian American 10,200 2.1 34,142 29.9
Non-Hispanic Native American 1,743 0.4 5,827 29.9
Other/Multiple/Unknown 43,300 8.8 146,662 29.5
TOTAL 492,825 100.0 1,321,515 37.3

Mail Ballots Returned and Accepted by Age

Age Returned Ballots Freq. Distribution Requested Ballots Return Rate
18 to 25 28,030 5.7 123,652 22.7
26 to 40 64,552 13.1 244,836 26.4
41 to 65 169,463 34.4 484,160 35.0
66 and up 218,345 44.3 468,867 46.6
TOTAL 492,825 100.0 1,321,515 37.3

Mail Ballots Returned and Accepted by Gender

Gender Returned Ballots Freq. Distribution Requested Ballots Return Rate
Female 263,169 53.4 710,005 37.1
Male 202,417 41.1 512,422 39.5
Unknown 27,239 5.5 99,088 27.5
TOTAL 492,825 100.0 1,321,515 37.3

Rejected

Ballots Rejected: 5,290
Rejection Rate: 1.1%

Most of these rejected ballots are for the ballot status reason of “WITNESS INFO INCOMPLETE”.

North Carolina election officials are required by state law to follow up with these voters. If you are a North Carolina voter concerned about your mail ballot, you can track the status of your ballot at the North Carolina State Board of Elections website.

In the “All” mail ballot returned statistics, I add the mail ballots that are returned and accepted with the rejected ballots. Dividing the number of rejected by this quantity yields a rejection rate.

Mail Ballots Rejected by Party Registration

Party Rejected Ballots Freq. Distribution All Returned Ballots Rejection Rate
Democrats 3,248 61.4 254,939 1.3
Republicans 869 16.4 88,387 1.0
Minor 20 0.4 1,748 1.1
No Party Affiliation 1,153 21.8 153,041 0.8
TOTAL 5,290 100.0 498,115 1.1
All
Dem
Rep
NPA
Minor

Mail Ballots Rejected by Race and Ethnicity

Race/Ethnicity Rejected Ballots Freq. Distribution All Returned Ballots Rejection Rate
Non-Hispanic White 2,201 41.6 351,976 0.6
Non-Hispanic Black 2,175 41.1 80,523 2.7
Hispanic 198 3.7 9,655 2.1
Non-Hispanic Asian American 141 2.7 10,341 1.4
Non-Hispanic Native American 98 1.9 1,841 5.3
Other/Multiple/Unknown 477 9.0 43,777 1.1
TOTAL 5,290 100.0 498,115 1.1
Non-Hispanic White
Non-Hispanic Black

Requested

Ballots Requested: 1,321,515
Request Rate: 18.2%

Mail Ballot Requests by Party Registration

North Carolina registered Democrats have a 367,526 ballot request lead over registered Republicans.

Party Count Percent
Democrats 619,949 46.9
Republicans 252,423 19.1
Minor 6,979 0.5
No Party Affiliation 442,164 33.5
TOTAL 1,321,515 100.0

North Carolina releases an update to the voter registration file each Saturday. The voter registration numbers are from the most recent release and may be slightly dated.

All
Dem
Rep
NPA
Minor

Mail Ballot Requests by Race and Ethnicity

Race Count Percent
Non-Hispanic White 868,000 65.7
Non-Hispanic Black 232,901 17.6
Hispanic 33,983 2.6
Non-Hispanic Asian American 34,142 2.6
Non-Hispanic Native American 5,827 0.4
Other/Multiple/Unknown 146,662 11.1
TOTAL 1,321,515 100.0

Mail Ballot Requests by Age

North Carolina provides mail ballot request data in age ranges inconsistent with other states’ ranges. The age statistics presented here are not included in the national age statistics.

Age Count Percent
18 to 25 123,652 9.4
26 to 40 244,836 18.5
41 to 65 484,160 36.6
66 and up 468,867 35.5
TOTAL 1,321,515 100.0

Mail Ballot Requests by Gender

Gender Count Percent
Female 710,005 53.7
Male 512,422 38.8
Unknown 99,088 7.5
TOTAL 1,321,515 100.0